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Warning! Gratuitous Pet Photo Ahead

This particular judge lobbied hard for Dan - I think because he mentioned he had Cheetos. Cheater.
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I don't really know why these are "Island" black beans. There really isn't much that's islandy about them. I do know that I bought a pre-packaged bean soup mix one time that was labeled that way, and we kinda liked it so I decided to make it without the mix, and it's kind of morphed into something else entirely. Not that there was anything particularly islandy about the mix either, but anyway, it's very delicious :)

Put 2 cups of black beans in a pot with 8 cups of water and the chipotle(s) and bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about an hour (or 90 minutes if you didn't soak them first). Meanwhile, caramelize an onion in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. When the onion is nice and brown add the garlic and the red pepper and cook until they are soft. Add this to the beans along with the bay leaf, oregano and thyme, and salt and continue to cook for another half hour or so, until the beans are tender. Add the vinegar and check the salt. I usually add some black pepper too, cause we like it.

>> Monday, April 28, 2008

However you spell it (or say it) chicken shawarma is dang good eatin'. This lunch was made from leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Gotta love those leftovers! I used a spice mix from a local restaurant/grocery called Haji Baba. It's definitely better when they make it but we still managed to choke it down. I drizzled a tiny bit of pomegranate molasses on the top of mine for a little change o' pace.

>> Sunday, April 27, 2008

This month's challenge is brought to you by Elle, Deborah and the letter P. P as in precious. As in just too, too precious. Oh and T, for tedious. Seriously. Now you guys know I dig cute food, but this was a bit much, even for me. Of course prior to actually making these things this would have been brought to you by the letters E and C. As in exciting and clever. But that was then.

They are kinda cute though aren't they? I had to decorate them with some buttercream. There was NO butter in this recipe! I know, I know!

This is what happened when I got bored with the buttercream. And when one fell off the stick. And into my mouth.

Did I mention how many of these things there were? We were supposed to make 2 ounce sized pops. I'm not sure if that's weight ounces or volume ounces but either way my big scoop made them way too freakin' big. They just popped right off the sticks. So these are a little smaller, about golf ball sized. And there are lots of them. Lots and lots and lots. And another full pan still in the fridge. Though as the boy reminded me, "having lots of cheesecake isn't really a bad thing". Smart boy that one. Taught him everything he knows.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad recipe. I'm just not sure that taking a perfectly good cheese cake and mushing it into balls and impaling it on a stick and them covering it in chocolate really adds anything to the whole cheesecake eating experience. You have a cheesecake, you have a spoon. End of story, right?

I haven't looked at any of the other DB's creations, but past experience tells me there will be some mighty fine lookin' cheesecake pops out there. Check them out here at the Daring Bakers Blogroll.

>> Saturday, April 26, 2008

I have a habit of picking up different lunch containers as I come across them whether I really need them or not. This particular container is a two peice plastic "tiffin" made in India that I found at a local dollar store. I really like this set - it's perfect for this type of meal.

1. spaghetti with a giant halved meatball and shaved parmesan2. green salad with dressing in the small bottle

>> Tuesday, April 22, 2008

You may have noticed I'm still not making lunch for the spawn. I truly though they'd crack by now - come begging to me "oh please Momma please make me a lunch". Didn't happen. I can't help but wonder if maybe they just don't want me to pack lunch for them but are afraid they'll hurt my feelings with that truth. Maybe what seems nice and fun at home is just weird and embarrassing at school. Boo says that the lines are so long that sometimes she doesn't even get anything to eat at all and Boy says that the greasy cafeteria food makes him nauseated but the fact remains that they seem to prefer it to a packed lunch. At least for now.

In other news - don't forget to Haiku That Blog! Take another look at the totally awesome super cool prize that's on the line.

>> Saturday, April 19, 2008

I'm really excited to bring you Lunch Bucket Bento's very first contest. With a prize even! Here's what you have to do.

1. write a haiku about Lunch Bucket Bento2. post it in the comments3. wait to see if you win

Easy huh?

The winner will receive their very own Justice League sandwich box! Wooohooo! The winner will also have the option of having their very. own. blog. featured in the the next edition of Haiku That Blog. If the winner does not have their very. own. blog. they will be strongly encouraged to start one. Failing that, the winner will be allowed to choose the next blog to be featured.

Entries will be accepted until midnight or so April 26, 2008. Winner will be chosen by a panel of people who live at or are visiting or walking past my house. Prize package worth less than $5. Now get Haikuing!

EDIT - Art knows no geographical boundaries. Everyone is free to participate. It would be helpful if you identified yourself though - yeah, I'm talkin' to you, anonymous.

>> Thursday, April 17, 2008

1. squares of Havarti - some plain, some horseradish2. roast beef (the BEST roast beef I've ever bought - tastes like you made it at home - look at it! isn't it beautiful?)3. a pickle4. crackers5. strawberries and blackberries

Sometimes something just hits the spot. This lunch (along with some fresh lemonade) totally made my day. Yes, I am aware of how pathetic that sounds. I don't care though, cause at least one of the last 24 hours was pretty much perfect.

>> Wednesday, April 16, 2008

This turned out way better than I expected. There's a small lidded container of seasoned ground beef under the orange slices, two silicon cups with the toppings, some strawberries, and a sauce pig. I wrapped cooked corn tortillas in paper towels and put them in a zip bag, then assembled the tacos when I was ready to eat. Delicioso!

I had the rest of the roll. And the rest of the watermelon. And almonds. And cookies. No orange though, trying to cut out the extraneous fruit in my diet to leave more room for chocolate and coffee. Back tomorrow with more lunches that I didn't make for my heathensImeankids!

>> Monday, April 14, 2008

We eat a lot of potato salad - so sometimes I like to mix it up. Get a little crazy. Walk on the wild side. Sometimes I run blindfolded right towards the edge and make Southwestern potato salad. You're probably thinkin' I must be some kind of gourmet chef - and you'd mostly be right. This ain't no amateur hour. Oh, forget it. I'm tired of the charade. Mix up some chili powder, like a tablespoon in about 3 tablespoons of your finest Dijon mustard. Let it hang out there in the bowl while the potatoes cook. Loosen it up with a spoonful of hot potato water then mix it in with your normal potato salad stuff. Boom. Southwestern potato salad. Try it!

>> Thursday, April 3, 2008

My addictions - numerous; some of which need not be discussed. But I do read "Mommy Blogs". Compulsively. I don't know why - my kids are so not babies any more. Maybe it let's me relive a little bit of that time of my life only with more sleep. And money. And less poop.

Anyway, I was reading not that you asked... last night and ... well, there's a child out there named Emily. Just 16 months old, a baby really. And she has just been diagnosed with cancer. A horrible icky scary cancer.

>> Wednesday, April 2, 2008

No, this is not some wannabe clever post about having bratwurst for lunch. This is a dig at my children. I got them back. Yes! How did I do it? Well, I cooked a really great dinner that they pretty much snarled at and refused to eat and then I, well, I packed up the leftovers for my lunch and gave them money for the cafeteria. Ha! Take that! As you can imagine they were devastated. Oh they tried to cover it well, but I knew the high-fives and general hilarity were just for show.

>> Tuesday, April 1, 2008

It's more than just the heat that's making me cranky these days. I swear if you didn't know better you'd think I'm constantly trying to poison these kids. I mean I know I'm cheap, and I do hate waste. But still. I've never given them bad food. When I doubt I really do throw it out! But still. Every single freakin' thing they take out of the fridge; "Mom? Is this still good?". God forbid anything should get close to its "sell by" date. I've drank more milk in the past 2 weeks than in the 24 before that - PROVING that the milk isn't bad. And I don't. like. milk.

"Honey do you really think that I would EVER give you something that wasn't good for you? Something that would make you sick? Seriously? It smells fine. If something LOOKS okay and you smell it and it smells okay and then you taste it and tastes okay then it's most likely good to eat."

"Uhm...no but Mom, it's just that the expiration date says April 1st and it's already March 25th and I'm not sure blahblahblahblahblahblahblah"

"GIVE ME THE DAMN MILK!"

gulp

"Do I look like I'm dying? No? Then drink it!"

And now today.

"How was lunch?"

"I didn't eat it. I'm sorry Mom."

"Why not?"

"Well I didn't think it would still be good."

One of these days they'll push me too far and I'll serve up a big stale tortilla burrito for dinner with out of date cheese AND sour cream and and maybe some rotten fruit for dessert. Just. Cause. I. Can.